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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Determining Bile Duct Density in the Mouse Liver
Published on: April 30, 2019
SgIGSF is a novel biliary-epithelial cell adhesion molecule mediating duct/ductule development
Akihiko Ito1, Yuji Nishikawa, Kazuhiro Ohnuma
1Division of Surgical Pathology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. akito@med.kobe-u.ac.jp
Spermatogenic immunoglobulin superfamily (SgIGSF) functions as a biliary epithelial cell adhesion molecule during active bile duct formation in developing and regenerating livers. Its expression is transient and crucial for ductule development, as blocking it inhibits cell processes.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Hepatology
Background:
- Spermatogenic immunoglobulin superfamily (SgIGSF) is an intercellular adhesion molecule.
- SgIGSF is expressed in fetal but not adult liver.
- Its role in liver development and regeneration is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cellular expression of SgIGSF in developing and regenerating liver.
- To elucidate the function of SgIGSF in bile duct and ductule formation.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis in mouse and rat liver models.
- Analysis of human fetal, newborn, adult, and cirrhotic liver tissues.
- In vitro rat hepatocyte aggregate culture with function-blocking antibody.
Main Results:
- SgIGSF is transiently expressed on biliary epithelial cells (BECs) in developing mouse liver.
- In regenerating rat liver, SgIGSF is found in oval cells post-hepatectomy.
- Human fetal/newborn bile ducts and cirrhotic ductules express SgIGSF, unlike healthy adult ducts.
- In vitro, SgIGSF is present on forming ductules, and blocking it reduces epithelial processes by 80%.
Conclusions:
- SgIGSF is a novel, functional BEC adhesion molecule.
- Its expression is temporally regulated during active bile duct/ductule formation.
- SgIGSF plays a critical role in ductule development.
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